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Fishman Stewart PLLC, an intellectual property specialty law firm focused on “identifying, securing, and advancing creativity,” is pleased to announce that seven of its attorneys have been recognized as Leading Lawyers in 2021. 

Fishman Stewart founding members Michael D. Fishman and Michael B. Stewart were first named Leading Lawyers in 2014, shortly after the organization began surveying attorneys across the state of Michigan.  In addition, Fishman is a member of the Leading Lawyers Advisory Board.

The following Fishman Stewart attorneys have been recognized as Leading Lawyers in their category of distinction:

• Michael D. Fishman - Copyright & Trademark Law, Intellectual Property Law, Patent Law
• Michael B. Stewart - Copyright & Trademark Law, Intellectual Property Law, Patent Law
• Ronald W. Citkowski - Intellectual Property Law, Patent Law
• Julie A. Greenberg - Copyright & Trademark Law
• John P. Guenther - Intellectual Property Law
• Douglas P. LaLone - Copyright & Trademark Law, Intellectual Property Law, Patent Law, Trade Secrets/Unfair Competition Law
• Barbara Lynn Mandell - Commercial Litigation, Copyright & Trademark Law, Intellectual Property Law

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The journal Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) has ranked Bodman PLC as one of Michigan’s top law firms for services to high net worth individuals and families and their closely held businesses.

In the newly released 2021 edition of Chambers HNW, Bodman is one of only three law firms based in Michigan, and the only one based in southeast Michigan, to be ranked at the highest “Band One” level for private wealth law.

Chambers HNW also recognizes individual attorneys who are viewed by their clients and peers as leaders in the field of private wealth law.  Bodman attorneys listed in the 2021 edition include David P. Larsen, Andrew H. Curoe, and Kelly M. Burnell of the firm’s Detroit office and Anthony P. Cracchiolo and Marguerite Munson Lentz of the Troy office.  For 2021, Larsen is one of only nine Michigan attorneys ranked at the Band One level as an individual.

The attorneys in Bodman’s High Net Worth Group provide comprehensive legal services to affluent individuals and families. The firm’s clients include some of Michigan’s most well-known families, as well as business owners, executives, athletes, and other professionals seeking to minimize the tax burden on their heirs, make significant charitable donations, or complete complex personal transactions.

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Harness Dickey is pleased to announce the appointment of Ray Millien to chief executive officer. As CEO, Millien will guide the firm, established in 1921, into a new century of innovation and delivering cutting-edge global legal services. Millien succeeds the 100-year-old firm’s first-ever CEO Bill Coughlin, who will assume a CEO emeritus role.

Millien’s background and nearly 25 years of experience includes in-house IP counsel positions in four different industries—automotive, energy, financial services, and healthcare—and in practice at both a large general practice firm and an IP boutique. That expertise positioned him to assume the top leadership role at Harness Dickey and prepared him with the insight and knowledge to solve the complex legal issues the prestigious global IP firm’s clients regularly encounter.

“I’m honored that the firm’s Executive Committee selected me to build on Bill’s success,” said Millien, who was most recently chief IP officer at Volvo Car Corporation and CEO of Volvo Cars Ventures in Sweden. “As CEO, I’ll not only practice with the finest IP lawyers, but also will help Harness Dickey build on its long and preeminent history of serving the country’s most elite businesses, universities, inventors, artists and entrepreneurs. It’s the ultimate opportunity in the perfect place with the right
people.”

Millien’s vision for the future includes reimagining the way IP boutiques deliver legal services, ensuring the firm emulates its clients by embracing innovation with a similar zeal. He also plans to utilize through operational efficiency some of the work-life balance ideology he admired in Sweden. What he doesn’t intend to change are the tenets that have benefited both the firm and its clients so well during the past century: high-quality work, exceptional service and a focus on helping clients achieve the most from their IP investment.

“Our firm is in the ideal position for me to entrust its leadership to someone with the acumen, ideas and energy to catapult us into the next stage of our growth,” said Coughlin. “I’m grateful to everyone who has helped me achieve through the pandemic the progress we’ve made toward our goals, and I look forward to my new role as CEO emeritus. No one better than Ray can help us continue to harness innovation as we start on our next 100 years.”

In addition to Volvo Cars, Millien led the IP function at GE Oil & Gas (now Baker Hughes) and the American Express Company, and the software IP function at GE Healthcare. He also served as general counsel at Ocean Tomo, LLC and practiced IP law at DLA Piper and Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox. Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine has repeatedly named Millien one of the “World’s 300 Leading IP Strategists.”

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Butzel Long attorney Kurtis T. Wilder has been elected chair of the Interlochen Center for the Arts Board of Trustees. Previously, he served as first vice-chair and chair-elect.

Interlochen was founded in 1928 and is located in northwest lower Michigan. Each year, thousands of artists and arts patrons come to Interlochen to experience world-class educational and cultural opportunities. Students study music, theatre, visual arts, film, creative writing, and dance, guided by faculty and guest artists.

“It is a highlight to serve Interlochen in this leadership role,” said Kurtis T. Wilder.  “Interlochen offers immense enrichment opportunities for students to discover new interests and talents.

“Interlochen brings students together from across the globe for the summer Arts Camp and the Arts Academy for an unmatched educational experience that will forever change their lives,” he added. “Importantly, students of any age also can participate in the Interlochen College of Creative Arts, which offers diverse continuing education opportunities.”

Wilder is a shareholder with Butzel Long. He concentrates his practice in litigation, appeals, and mediation and facilitation. Wilder served on the Michigan Supreme Court following his appointment by Governor Rick Snyder on May 9, 2017. Prior to that time, Wilder served as a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals from December 1998 to May 2017 and a judge of the Washtenaw County Trial Court from March 1992 to December 1998.

Wilder, the 112th justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, graduated from the University of Michigan with an A.B. degree in Political Science in 1981, and from the University of Michigan Law School with a law degree in 1984.

Earlier this year, Wilder was named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Hall of Fame Class of 2021.

In 2020, Wilder was elected secretary of the Board of Directors of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Wilder also serves on the Boards of the Alumni Association of the
University of Michigan, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars, and The Children’s Foundation.

Wilder is also an elder and chancel choir member at First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth, and has memberships in the Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, the Federalist Society, Board of Advisors, Lawyers Division-Michigan Chapter, and the Wolverine Bar Association.

He is a past president of the Michigan Judges Association, and past chairman of the State Bar of Michigan Judicial Conference.

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Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that Deborah L. Germany has joined the firm’s Detroit office as Of Counsel.

Germany focuses on corporate and business law, including mergers and acquisitions, tax elections and procedures and joint ventures. She has counseled clients regarding all stages of business strategy across multiple business sectors; advising on matters such as corporate governance, risk management, organizational structuring and choice of entity.

Germany’s knowledge and experience includes drafting and reviewing purchase agreements, stock agreements, joint venture agreements, real estate agreements, non-competition agreements, security agreements, credit agreements and promissory notes.

Germany is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Wolverine Bar Association, the Detroit Bar Association, and the Macomb County Bar Association. She serves as the Mock Trial coordinator for Detroit Public Schools and is a volunteer for the H.E.L.P. Legal Aid Clinic at The St. Peter and Paul Warming Center and for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. Germany received her law degree from Wayne State University Law School.

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Maddin, Hauser, Roth, & Heller PC is pleased to announce that Jordan B. Segal joined the firm as an associate attorney. He is a member of the Real Estate and Corporate and Employment practice groups.

Segal represents clients across a broad range of business and employment matters. He regularly drafts employee noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and nondisclosure agreements, as well as architectural, engineering, and construction contracts. He helps companies protect valuable proprietary information by reviewing data security, privacy policies, and internal procedures. Segal also advises startup businesses on corporate structuring and investor relations requirements.

Segal previously served as general counsel for a national real estate developer, giving him insight into understanding nuanced issues from the client’s perspective.

While there, he provided legal advice in all aspects of commercial real estate development, including zoning, permitting, construction, acquisitions, sales, commercial leases, title review, entity formation, corporate maintenance, and project financing.

Segal is a frequent contributor to academic and business journals, including Michigan Business Law Journal, Compliance Today, and Cooley Law Review. Admitted to practice in Michigan and Maryland, Segal actively participates in the Business Law Section of the Michigan Bar Association, where he serves as chair of the In-House Counsel Committee.